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A logical fixed point is a formula or sentence equivalent to the result of applying a specified formula operation to itself. In arithmetic, self-reference is mediated by a Gödel number and the diagonal lemma, yielding a first-order sentence $G$ with a provable equivalence $G\leftrightarrow H(┌G┐)$. In modal logic, a modal formula $A$ satisfies $A\leftrightarrow F(A)$ modulo the chosen logic. A merely true semantic equivalence is weaker than a specified provable or canonical construction, so its hypotheses must be kept distinct.

A modal formula is built from propositional variables and logical constants using Boolean connectives and modal operators, such as the box operator. In provability logic, arithmetic realization replaces propositional letters by arithmetic sentences and interprets a box as the corresponding arithmetic provability assertion. Modal validity, theoremhood and truth under a particular arithmetic realization are distinct notions.

Uniform substitution in modal logic replaces each occurrence of a first-order sentence letter by the same modal formula. Normal modal formal proof systems with axiom schemes are closed under this operation: substituted axioms remain instances, modus ponens is preserved, and necessitation commutes with substitution. Fresh auxiliary letters permit substituting a derived fixed point into fixed-point uniqueness theorems without changing other parameters.